Coated metallic products and methods for making the same

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to methods for producing metallic products comprising a substrate and a metallic, external coating. In preferred embodiments, the metallic products are jewelry articles.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing a coated jewelry article or a coated component of a jewelry article, the method comprising:
 providing a jewelry article or a component of a jewelry article; and 
 subjecting the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article to a layering process to obtain a coated jewelry article or a coated component of a jewelry article comprising a coating selected from at least one of the following: 
 titanium(2) nitride (Ti2N), titanium-aluminum carbo-nitride (TiAlCN), chromium-titanium nitride (CrTiN), aluminum-titanium nitride (AlTiN), aluminum-titanium-chromium nitride (AlTiCrN), titanium-zirconium (TiZi), titanium-niobium-zirconium (TiNiZi), tungsten nitride (WN), titanium diboride (TiB2), tungsten carbide, cobalt, tungsten, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, rhodium, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, iron, cobalt chrome, cobalt chromium, nickel, nitinol, aluminum, aluminum carbide, vanadium, ruthenium, copper, brass, bronze, tungsten copper, zinc, tin, German silver, niobium, molybdenum, hafnium, rhenium, chromium, a steel alloy, silver nitride, aluminum nitride, tantalum nitride, chromium carbide, zirconium carbide, and cobalt chrome molybdenum, 
 wherein the coated jewelry article or the coated component of the jewelry article consists of the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article and the coating. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article comprises at least one of tungsten carbide, cobalt, tungsten, titanium, titanium carbide, zirconium, tantalum, rhodium, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, iron, stainless steel, 316 stainless steel, cobalt chrome, cobalt chromium, nickel, nitinol, aluminum, aluminum carbide, vanadium, ruthenium, copper, tungsten copper, zinc, tin, German silver, niobium, molybdenum, rhenium, hafnium, alloys of each of the foregoing and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article comprises tungsten carbide. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating further comprises at least one of titanium carbide, stainless steel, alloys of each of the foregoing and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises cobalt-chromium. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article is a ring, an ornamental ring, an engagement ring, a toe ring, a watch, a bracelet, a necklace, a pendant, a charm, an armlet, a brocade, a pin, a clip, a hairclip, a fob, an ornamental piercing, an earring, a nose ring, a dog tag, an amulet, a bangle bracelet, a cuff bracelet, a link bracelet, a cuff link, a key chain, a money clip, a cell phone charm, a signet ring, a class ring, a friendship ring or a purity ring or a component of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating further comprises at least one of titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbo-nitride (TiCN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), titanium carbide, stainless steel, gold nitride, vanadium nitride, and tantalum carbide. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating further comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is selected from a group consisting of a metal, a metal compound, a metallic compound, a material having metallic properties, a metal alloy, and a compound having metallic properties. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating exhibits electrical conductivity. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is deposited over a substrate using electroplating, physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD), wherein the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article comprising the substrate. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating alters a luster of the jewelry article. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the luster is selected from color change, adamantine, dull, greasy, metallic, pearly, resinous, silky, submetallic, vitreous, waxy, asterism, aventurescence, chatoyancy, and schiller. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article is capable of being manipulated prior to the layering process. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the manipulation is performed using at least one of a CNC machine, a laser, a photo lithography technique, a water jet, a lathe, a tumbler, a drill, a saw, a file, a power tool, and a hand tool. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises at least one of cobalt-chromium, cobalt, 316 stainless steel, 18-8 stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, nickel, chromium, and zirconium. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises at least one of a metal carbide, a metal nitride, and a metal boride. 
     
     
       18. The jewelry article or component of the jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein the coating further comprising titanium-aluminum nitride (TiAlN). 
     
     
       19. The jewelry article or component of the jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein the coating further comprising chromium nitride (CrN). 
     
     
       20. A method for producing a coated jewelry article or a coated component of a jewelry article, the method comprising:
 providing a jewelry article or a component of a jewelry article, wherein the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article comprising tungsten carbide; and 
 subjecting the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article to a layering process to obtain a coated jewelry article or a coated component of a jewelry article comprising a coating selected from at least one of: 
 titanium(2) nitride (Ti2N), titanium-aluminum carbo-nitride (TiAlCN), chromium-titanium nitride (CrTiN), aluminum-titanium nitride (AlTiN), aluminum-titanium-chromium nitride (AlTiCrN), titanium-zirconium (TiZi), titanium-niobium-zirconium (TiNiZi), tungsten nitride (WN), titanium diboride (TiB2), tungsten carbide, cobalt, tungsten, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, rhodium, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, iron, cobalt chrome, cobalt chromium, nickel, nitinol, aluminum, aluminum carbide, vanadium, ruthenium, copper, brass, bronze, tungsten copper, zinc, tin, German silver, niobium, molybdenum, hafnium, rhenium, chromium, a steel alloy, silver nitride, aluminum nitride, tantalum nitride, chromium carbide, zirconium carbide, and cobalt chrome molybdenum, 
 wherein the coated jewelry article or the coated component of the jewelry article consists of the jewelry article or the component of the jewelry article and the coating.